Irwin Jacobs Pledges $50 Million to Father Joe's Villages for 18-Story Homeless Campus in East Village

Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs announced a $50 million donation to Father Joe's Villages on Monday, kicking off what will become the largest single investment in a homeless services facility in downtown San Diego history.

The donation will help fund the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Family Campus — a three-building, 18-story complex planned for the corner of Imperial Avenue and 15th Street in East Village. The total project cost is estimated at $350 million, with a groundbreaking expected in 2028.

"I am proud to announce that Doctor Irwin Jacobs has risen to the challenge of addressing homelessness and the unique issues facing our aging population with an investment of $50 million to bring this vision to a reality," said Father Joe's President and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas at the Monday announcement.

The campus will include more than 500 affordable housing units, with 150 units set aside for older adults and 77 designated for transitional housing. The project will be built atop the site of the current Joan Kroc Center — the organization's longtime intake and shelter hub — which will be demolished.

Mayor Todd Gloria and County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre were present at the announcement alongside Jacobs and his son, Paul Jacobs.

The development comes as downtown San Diego continues to grapple with homelessness. A mid-2025 count by the Downtown San Diego Partnership recorded 756 unsheltered people across downtown neighborhoods — a nearly 65 percent drop from the May 2023 peak of 2,104. Officials attribute part of the decline to expanded shelter beds and safe sleeping sites.

Father Joe's Villages is the region's largest homeless services provider, offering shelter, healthcare, case management, and employment assistance. The Jacobs family has been a longtime benefactor of the organization; Joan Jacobs, who passed away in 2024, was a presenting sponsor of the organization's annual Children's Charity Gala.

The project's developer, Arete Development, has not released a detailed financing plan beyond the Jacobs pledge and the $350 million overall estimate. Vargas said the organization is working to secure additional funding for the remaining costs.